Sparc binding peptides and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides SPARC and Albumin binding peptides for the targeting of disease sites, such as tumors, with therapeutic and diagnostic agents. In particular, compositions comprising SPARC binding peptide-Antibody Fc domain fusion proteins and methods of their use are disclosed.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/120,228, filed on Dec. 5, 2008, the complete contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Secreted Protein, Acidic, Rich in Cysteines (SPARC), also known as osteonectin, is a 303 amino acid glycoprotein which is expressed in the human body. SPARC expression is developmentally regulated, with SPARC being predominantly expressed in tissues undergoing remodeling during normal development or in response to injury. See, e.g., Lane et al., FASEB J., 8, 163-173 (1994). For example, high levels of SPARC protein are expressed in developing bones and teeth, principally osteoblasts, odontoblasts, perichondrial fibroblasts, and differentiating chondrocytes in murine, bovine, and human embryos. SPARC also plays important roles in cell-matrix interactions during tissue remodeling, wound repair, morphogenesis, cellular differentiation, cell migration, and angiogenesis, including where these processes are associated with disease states. For example, SPARC is expressed in renal interstitial fibrosis, and plays a role in the host response to pulmonary insults, such as bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

SPARC is differentially expressed in tumors and its surrounding stroma in various cancers in comparison to the normal tissue, with the pattern depending on the type of cancer. Thus, there is no unifying model which explains all facets of its function and contribution to the development and progression of cancer. In one pattern, increased SPARC expression have been reported in breast cancer (Bellahcene and Castronovo, 1995; Jones et al., 2004; Lien et al., 2007; Porter et al., 1995), melanoma (Ledda et al., 1997a), and glioblastomas (Rempel et al., 1998). Increased SPARC expression plays a role in tumor promotion or progression in these cancers.

Accordingly, SPARC over expression in inflammation and some cancers makes a SPARC potential target for diagnosis and therapy.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides compositions for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a disease site in a mammal comprising a therapeutically or diagnostically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the therapeutic or diagnostic agent coupled to a SPARC-binding-peptide (“SBP”) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (“inventive compositions”), including wherein the SBP comprises one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-117.

Particularly preferred embodiments include, e.g., inventive compositions for delivering a therapeutic agent to a disease site in a mammal comprising one or more SBPs, wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibody fragment comprising a functional antibody Fc domain, including, e.g., wherein the functional antibody Fc domain comprises SEQ ID NO: 118.

Additional preferred embodiments include inventive compositions for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a disease site in a mammal composition, e.g., wherein the SBP comprises: at least 10 consecutive amino acids from any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-112 and 117. Preferably, the SBP can be comprised of at least 10 consecutive amino acids from any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-112 and 117. Other embodiments include compositions, e.g., wherein there are two or more separate SBPs, wherein each individual SBP comprises at least 10 consecutive amino acids from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-112 and 117, preferably any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-5. Embodiments include compositions, e.g., wherein there are two or more separate SBPs, wherein the individual SBPs are comprised of one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-117.

The invention also provides compositions for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a disease site in a mammal comprising a therapeutically or diagnostically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the therapeutic or diagnostic agent coupled to a SBP, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, further comprising an albumin binding peptide (“ABP”), wherein the ABP comprises a SEQ ID NO: 119 or SEQ ID NO: 120 or both SEQ ID NOs: 119 and 120. Such compositions include, wherein the SBP and the ABP are in the same polypeptide and wherein the SBP and the ABP are in different polypeptides.

The invention further provides methods for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a disease site in a mammal comprising a therapeutically or diagnostically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the therapeutic or diagnostic agent coupled to a SPARC-binding-peptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, (“inventive methods”) wherein the SBP comprises SEQ ID Nos: 1-117. Preferred embodiments include inventive methods wherein the compositions, e.g., wherein the SBP comprises: at least 10 consecutive amino acids from any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-112 and 117, more preferably from any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-5 and 117.

Other preferred embodiments include inventive methods, e.g., wherein there are two or more separate SBPs, wherein the individual SBPs are comprised of one or more of SEQ ID NO: 1-117. The invention also provides inventive methods, wherein there are two or more separate polypeptides each comprised of at least one SBP and wherein the SBPs comprise at least 10 consecutive amino acids from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-112.

Particularly preferred inventive methods include compositions, e.g., wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibody fragment comprising a functional antibody Fc domain such as wherein the antibody fragment comprises SEQ ID NO: 118. Such methods in accordance with the invention include, e.g., wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibody fragment which mediates one or more of complement activation, cell mediated cytotoxicity, inducing apoptosis, inducing cell death, and opsinization.

The inventive methods provided by the invention also include serum albumin-binding-peptides (“ABPs”) comprising SEQ ID NOS: 119 or 120 or both SEQ ID NOS: 119 and 120. Methods in accordance with the invention further include, e.g., both wherein the SBP and the ABP are in the same polypeptide and wherein the SBP and the ABP are in different polypeptides. However, the SBP can also be comprised of at least 10 consecutive amino acids from any one or more of SEQ ID NOS: 1-112.

The inventive compositions and inventive methods provided can be employed wherein the disease site is a tumor and wherein the mammal is a human patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 depicts the general concept of fusing a binding peptide to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. In the example depicted in this drawing, the therapeutic agent is an antibody Fc domain.

FIG. 2 depicts the general strategy for the iterative screening of a phage display library.

FIG. 3 depicts the sequences identified after screening a peptide phage display library for binding to SPARC by number of times the sequence is isolated.

FIG. 4 depicts the sequences identified after screening a peptide phage display library for binding to SPARC by the avidity of binding to SPARC (as indicated by OD).

FIG. 5 depicts the cloning of either peptide peptides PD 15 or PD21 into the pFUSE-hIgG1-Fc2 vector to give PD15 or PD21 Fc fusion protein.

FIG. 6 demonstrates the DNA sequence resulting from the cloning of the sequences encoding peptide 15 and peptide 21 into the pFUSE-hIgG1-Fc2 vector to encode peptide-Fc fusion proteins.

FIG. 7 depicts the expressed and purified PD 15-Fc and PD 21-Fc fusion proteins in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

FIG. 8 depicts the Protoarray used to define off target binding of PD 15 and PD21.

FIG. 9 is a graph of ELISA binding assays comparing the avidity of SPARC binding by PD 15 and PD 21 to that of an anti-SPARC antibody.

FIG. 10 presents photomicrographs of immunohistolgic studies performed on sections of a human tumor demonstrating tumor SPARC expression with an anti-SPARC antibody (R&D Anti SPARC). The negative control anti-Herceptin antibody (Fc fragment only) and a Stablin binding peptide-Fc fusion protein (stab-Fc) do not stain the tumor.

FIG. 11 depicts the histologic staining of a SPARC expressing tumor demonstrating the binding of PD 15 and PD 21 to the SPARC expressing cells of the tumor.

FIG. 12 depicts a potential SPARC binding site on elastin.

FIG. 13 depicts the antitumor activity of PD 15 and PD 21 in a human prostate cancer/nude mouse model system.

FIG. 14 depicts the antitumor activity of PD 15 and PD 21 in a human breast cancer/nude mouse model system.

FIG. 15 depicts two svFc polypeptides, ScFv 3-1 and ScFv 3-2, with SPARC binding activity.

FIG. 16 depicts two svFc polypeptides, ScFv 2-1 and ScFv 2-2, with SPARC binding activity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

SBPs and ABPs are “peptide ligand domains.” The term “peptide ligand domain” means an amino acid sequence which can exist either by itself and/or within in a larger polypeptide sequence and which binds another biomolecule with specificity. For example, the main blood transport system for fatty acids, bilirubin, tryptophan, calcium, steroid hormones and other physiologically important compounds involves the binding of these biomolecules to serum albumin. The binding of these biomolecules occurs at discrete sites in the albumin amino acid sequences, i.e., at peptide ligand domains in serum albumin.

The invention provides compositions for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a disease site in a mammal comprising a therapeutically or diagnostically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the therapeutic or diagnostic agent coupled to a SPARC-binding-peptide (“SBP”) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (“inventive compositions” and “inventive methods”). The present invention includes compositions and methods wherein the SBP comprises a peptide with the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-117, and most desirably, any one or more of SEQ ID NOS: 1-5, or one or more homologs of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-117.

The term “homolog” means a polypeptide having substantially the same amino acid sequence as the original sequence and exhibiting relevant properties that are substantially similar to the properties exhibited by the original sequence. Illustrative of one such property is the ability to modulate the tissue distribution of an active agent, wherein a homolog of SEQ ID NOs: 1-117 would be able to provide a substantially similar level of modulation to that provided by SEQ ID NOs: 1-117. In this context, for example and desirably, a homolog of SEQ ID NOs: 1-117 exhibiting such substantially similar modulation would provide a blood level of the active agent of at last about 80%, preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and most preferably at least about 95%, relative to that provided by SEQ ID NOs: 1-117. Alternatively, the term “homolog” also refers to, e.g., a peptide sequence of at least 6 consecutive amino acids, preferably at least 7 consecutive amino acids, more preferably at least 8 consecutive amino acids, even more preferably at least 9 consecutive amino acids, most preferably at least 10 consecutive amino acids of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-112, and most desirably, any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-5.

The compositions and methods provided by the invention also include ABPs comprising SEQ ID NOS: 119 or 120 or both SEQ ID NOS: 119 and 120 and homologs thereof. Methods in accordance with the invention further include, e.g., both wherein the SBP and the ABP are in the same polypeptide and wherein the SBP and the ABP are in different polypeptides.

In the context of changes relative to the original sequence, a homolog of an original sequence will desirably be at least about 80% identical to the original sequence, preferably be at least about 90% identical to the original sequence, even more preferably be at least about 95% identical to the original sequence, and most preferably be at least about 99% identical to the original sequence.

As used herein, “percentage of sequence identity” means the value determined by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over a comparison window. Additionally, the portion of the polypeptide sequence in the comparison window can comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) as compared to the reference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The percentage is calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical amino acid residue occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the window of comparison, and multiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity. Preferably, optimal alignment is conducted using the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443 453.

It is also desirable that where the homologs do not contain identical amino acids, the mutations result in only conservative amino acid changes. Accordingly, the residue positions which are not identical differ such that amino acid residues are substituted for other amino acid residues with similar chemical properties (e.g., charge or hydrophobicity) and therefore do not change the functional properties of the molecule. When sequences differ in conservative substitutions, the percent sequence identity can be adjusted upwards to correct for the conservative nature of the substitution. Sequences that differ by such conservative substitutions are said to have “sequence similarity” or “similarity”. Means for making this adjustment are well known to those of skill in the art.

In order to further exemplify what is meant by a “conservative” amino acid substitution or change in the context of the present invention, Groups A-F are listed below. The replacement of one member of the following groups by another member of the same group is considered to be a “conservative” substitution.

Group A includes leucine, isoleucine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, serine, cysteinee, threonine, and modified amino acids having the following side chains: ethyl, iso-butyl, —CH₂CH₂OH, —CH₂CH₂CH₂OH, —CH₂CHOHCH₃ and CH₂SCH₃.

Group B includes glycine, alanine, valine, serine, cysteinee, threonine, and a modified amino acid having an ethyl side chain.

Group C includes phenylalanine, phenylglycine, tyrosine, tryptophan, cyclohexylmethyl, and modified amino residues having substituted benzyl or phenyl side chains.

Group D includes glutamic acid, aspartic acid, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, aromatic or benzylic ester of glutamic or aspartic acid (e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl, or substituted benzyl), glutamine, asparagine, CO—NH-alkylated glutamine or asparagine (e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and iso-propyl), and modified amino acids having the side chain —(CH2)3COOH, an ester thereof (substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, aromatic, or benzylic ester), an amide thereof, and a substituted or unsubstituted N-alkylated amide thereof.

Group E includes histidine, lysine, arginine, N-nitroarginine, p-cycloarginine, g-hydroxyarginine, N-amidinocitruline, 2-amino guanidinobutanoic acid, homologs of lysine, homologs of arginine, and ornithine.

Group F includes serine, threonine, cysteinee, and modified amino acids having C1-C5 straight or branched alkyl side chains substituted with —OH or —SH.

The invention further provides compositions comprising a conjugate molecule, the conjugate molecule comprising a peptide ligand domain conjugated to an active agent, wherein the peptide ligand domain comprises up to an additional about 50 amino acids, preferably up to an additional about 25 amino acids, more preferably up to an additional about 15 amino acids, and most preferably up to an additional about 10 amino acids added to the amino or carboxyl terminus or both termini. The resulting polypeptides, which are in accordance with the invention, include polypeptides that are less than 50, less than 40, less than 30, less than 25 or less than 20 amino acids in total length.

The invention further provides compositions comprising a conjugate molecule, the conjugate molecule comprising a SBP conjugated to an active agent, wherein there are one or multiple SBP comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-137, 141-143, and most desirably, any one or more of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, and 135-137, 141-143.

The invention further provides isolated polynucleotides which encode polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of peptide ligand binding domain including those with said additional amino acid are added to the amino and/or carboxyl termini.

II. Methods of Making Peptides in Accordance with the Invention

The peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides provided by the present invention can be synthesized, detected, quantified and purified using known technologies. For example, cells expressing exogenous peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides can be generated by placing a cDNA under the control of strong promoter/translation start and the vector transfected or transformed into suitable prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells to drive the expression of peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides by methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides can be made chemically by methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides can be prepared by standard solid phase synthesis. As is generally known, peptides of the requisite length can be prepared using commercially available equipment and reagents following the manufacturers' instructions for blocking interfering groups, protecting the amino acid to be reacted, coupling, deprotection, and capping of unreacted residues. Suitable equipment can be obtained, for example, from Applied BioSystems, Foster City, Calif., or Biosearch Corporation in San Raphael, Calif.

For example, the peptides are synthesized using standard automated solid-phase synthesis protocols employing t-butoxycarbonyl-alpha-amino acids with appropriate side-chain protection. Completed peptide is removed from the solid phase support with simultaneous side-chain deprotection using the standard hydrogen fluoride method. Crude peptides are further purified by semi-preparative reverse phase-HPLC (Vydac C18) using acetonitrile gradients in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The peptides are vacuum dried to remove acetonitrile and lyophilized from a solution of 0.1% TFA in water. Purity is verified by analytical RP-HPLC. The peptides can be lyophilized and then solubilized in either water or 0.01M acetic acid at concentrations of 1-2 mg/mL by weight.

The use of the aforementioned synthetic methods is needed if nonencoded amino acids or the D-forms of amino acids occur in the peptides. However, for peptides which are gene-encoded, recourse can also be had through recombinant techniques using readily synthesized DNA sequences in commercially available expression systems.

The invention accordingly provides for a recombinant vector comprising the comprising a elements controlling the expression of a polynucleotide sequence encoding a peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide. In addition, the invention provides for a cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding a peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide, wherein the cell is a prokaryotic cell or a eukaryotic cell. Methods of microbial and tissue culture are well known to the skilled artisan (see, e.g., Sambrook & Russell, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (2001), pp. 16.1-16.54). The invention thus provides for method of making peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides comprising: (a) transforming cells with a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of claim 1; (b) inducing the expression of the polypeptide by the transformed cells; and (c) purifying the polypeptide.

Protein expression is dependent on the level of RNA transcription, which is in turn regulated by DNA signals. Similarly, translation of mRNA requires, at the very least, an AUG initiation codon, which is usually located within 10 to 100 nucleotides of the 5′ end of the message. Sequences flanking the AUG initiator codon have been shown to influence its recognition. For example, for recognition by eukaryotic ribosomes, AUG initiator codons embedded in sequences in conformity to a perfect “Kozak consensus” sequence resul in optimal translation (see, e.g., Kozak, J. Molec. Biol. 196: 947-950 (1987)). Also, successful expression of an exogenous nucleic acid in a cell can require post-translational modification of a resultant protein.

The nucleic acid molecules described herein preferably comprise a coding region operatively linked to a suitable promoter, for example, a promoter functional in eukaryotic cells. Viral promoters, such as, without limitation, the RSV promoter and the adenovirus major late promoter can be used in the invention. Suitable non-viral promoters include, but are not limited to, the phosphoglycerokinase (PGK) promoter and the elongation factor 1α promoter. Non-viral promoters are desirably human promoters. Additional suitable genetic elements, many of which are known in the art, also can be attached to, or inserted into the inventive nucleic acid and constructs to provide additional functions, level of expression, or pattern of expression.

In addition, the nucleic acid molecules described herein may be operatively linked to enhancers to facilitate transcription. Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA that stimulate the transcription of adjacent genes. Examples of enhancers which confer a high level of transcription on linked genes in a number of different cell types from many species include, without limitation, the enhancers from SV40 and the RSV-LTR. Such enhancers can be combined with other enhancers which have cell type-specific effects, or any enhancer may be used alone.

To optimize protein production in eukaryotic cells, the inventive nucleic acid molecule can further comprise a polyadenylation site following the coding region of the nucleic acid molecule. Also, preferably all the proper transcription signals (and translation signals, where appropriate) will be correctly arranged such that the exogenous nucleic acid will be properly expressed in the cells into which it is introduced. If desired, the exogenous nucleic acid also can incorporate splice sites (i.e., splice acceptor and splice donor sites) to facilitate mRNA production while maintaining an inframe, full length transcript. Moreover, the inventive nucleic acid molecules can further comprise the appropriate sequences for processing, secretion, intracellular localization, and the like.

The nucleic acid molecules can be inserted into any suitable vector. Suitable vectors include, without limitation, viral vectors. Suitable viral vectors include, without limitation, retroviral vectors, alphaviral, vaccinial, adenoviral, adeno associated viral, herpes viral, and fowl pox viral vectors. The vectors preferably have a native or engineered capacity to transform eukaryotic cells, e.g., CHO-K1 cells. Additionally, the vectors useful in the context of the invention can be “naked” nucleic acid vectors (i.e., vectors having little or no proteins, sugars, and/or lipids encapsulating them) such as plasmids or episomes, or the vectors can be complexed with other molecules. Other molecules that can be suitably combined with the inventive nucleic acids include without limitation viral coats, cationic lipids, liposomes, polyamines, gold particles, and targeting moieties such as ligands, receptors, or antibodies that target cellular molecules.

The nucleic acid molecules described herein can be transformed into any suitable cell, typically a eukaryotic cell, such as, e.g., CHO, HEK293, or BHK, desirably resulting in the expression of a peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide such as, e.g., polypeptide comprising of SEQ ID NOs: 1-120 or homologs thereof as described herein. The cell can be cultured to provide for the expression of the nucleic acid molecule and, therefore, the production of the peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide such as, e.g., a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1-120 or homolog thereof as described herein.

Accordingly, the invention provides for a cell transformed or transfected with an inventive nucleic acid molecule described herein. Means of transforming, or transfecting, cells with exogenous DNA molecules are well known in the art. For example, without limitation, a DNA molecule is introduced into a cell using standard transformation or transfection techniques well known in the art such as calcium-phosphate or DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, protoblast fusion, electroporation, liposomes and direct microinjection (see, e.g., Sambrook & Russell, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (2001), pp. 1.1-1.162, 15.1-15.53, 16.1-16.54).

Another example of a transformation method is the protoplast fusion method, protoplasts derived from bacteria carrying high numbers of copies of a plasmid of interest are mixed directly with cultured mammalian cells. After fusion of the cell membranes (usually with polyethylene glycol), the contents of the bacteria are delivered into the cytoplasm of the mammalian cells, and the plasmid DNA is transferred to the nucleus.

Electroporation, the application of brief, high-voltage electric pulses to a variety of mammalian and plant cells leads to the formation of nanometer-sized pores in the plasma membrane. DNA is taken directly into the cell cytoplasm either through these pores or as a consequence of the redistribution of membrane components that accompanies closure of the pores. Electroporation can be extremely efficient and can be used both for transient expression of clones genes and for establishment of cell lines that carry integrated copies of the gene of interest.

Such techniques can be used for both stable and transient tranfoimation of eukaryotic cells. The isolation of stably transformed cells requires the introduction of a selectable marker in conjunction with the transformation with the gene of interest. Such selectable markers include genes which confer resistance to neomycin as well as the HPRT gene in HPRT negative cells. Selection can require prolonged culture in selection media, at least for about 2-7 days, preferable for at least about 1-5 weeks (see, e.g., Sambrook & Russell, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (2001), pp. 16.1-16.54).

A peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide can be expressed and purified from a recombinant host cell. Recombinant host cells may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic, including but not limited to bacteria such as E. coli, fungal cells such as yeast, insect cells including but, not limited to, drosophila and silkworm derived cell lines, and mammalian cells and cell lines. When expressing a peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide in a cell, e.g., a human cell, whether, in vitro or in vivo, the codons selected for such the polynucleotide encoding the peptide can be optimized for a given cell type (i.e., species). Many techniques for codon optimization are known in the art (see, e.g., Jayaraj et al, Nucleic Acids Res. 33(9):3011-6 (2005); Fuglsang et al., Protein Expr. Purif. 31(2):247-9 (2003); Wu et al., “The Synthetic Gene Designer: a Flexible Web Platform to Explore Sequence Space of Synthetic Genes for Heterologous Expression,” csbw, 2005 IEEE Computational Systems Bioinformatics Conference—Workshops (CSBW'05), pp. 258-259 (2005)).

Issues which must be considered for optimal polypeptide expression in prokaryotes include the expression systems used, selection of host strain, mRNA stability, codon bias, inclusion body formation and prevention, fusion protein and site-specific proteolysis, compartment directed secretion. (see Sorensen et al., Journal of Biotechnology 115 (2005) 113-128, which is hereby incorporated by reference).

Expression is normally induced from a plasmid harboured by a system compatible genetic background. The genetic elements of the expression plasmid include origin of replication (ori), an antibiotic resistance marker, transcriptional promoters, translation initiation regions (TIRs) as well as transcriptional and translational terminators.

Any suitable expression system can be used, for example, Escherichia coli facilitates protein expression by its relative simplicity, high-density cultivation, the well-known genetics and the large number of compatible tools, including a variety of available plasmids, recombinant fusion partners and mutant strains, that are available for polypeptide expression. The E. coli strain or genetic background for recombinant expression is highly important. Expression strains should be deficient in the most harmful natural proteases, maintain the expression plasmid stably and confer the genetic elements relevant to the expression system (e.g., DE3).

Plasmid copy number is controlled by the origin of replication that preferably replicates in a relaxed fashion (Baneyx, 1999). The ColE1 replicon present in modern expression plasmids is derived from the pBR322 (copy number 15-20) or the pUC (copy number 500-700) family of plasmids, whereas the p15A replicon is derived from pACYC184 (copy number 10-12). The most common drug resistance markers in recombinant expression plasmids confer resistance to ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol or tetracycline.

E. coli expression systems include T7 based pET expression system (commercialized by Novagen), lambda PL promoter/cI repressor (e.g., Invitrogen pLEX), Trc promoter (e.g., Amersham Biosciences pTrc), Tac promoter (e.g., Amersham Biosciences pGEX) and hybrid lac/T5 (e.g., Qiagen pQE) and the BAD promoter (e.g., Invitrogen pBAD).

Translation initiation from the translation initiation region (TIR) of the transcribed messenger RNA require a ribosomal binding site (RBS) including the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence and a translation initiation codon. The Shine-Dalgarno sequence is located 7±2 nucleotides upstream from the initiation codon, which is the canonical AUG in efficient recombinant expression systems. Optimal translation initiation is obtained from mRNAs with the SD sequence UAAGGAGG.

Codon usage in E. coli is reflected by the level of cognate amino-acylated tRNAs available in the cytoplasm. Major codons occur in highly expressed genes whereas the minor or rare codons tend to be in genes expressed at low levels. Codons rare in E. coli are often abundant in heterologous genes from sources such as eukaryotes, archaeabacteria and other distantly related organisms with different codon frequency preferencies (Kane, 1995). Expression of genes containing rare codons can lead to translational errors, as a result of ribosomal stalling at positions requiring incorporation of amino acids coupled to minor codon tRNAs (McNulty et al., 2003). Codon bias problems become highly prevalent in recombinant expression systems, when transcripts containing rare codons in clusters, such as doublets and triplets accumulate in large quantities.

Protein activity demands folding into precise three dimensional structures. Stress situations such as heat shock impair folding in vivo and folding intermediates tend to associate into amorphous protein granules termed inclusion bodies.

Inclusion bodies are a set of structurally complex aggregates often perceived to occur as a stress response when recombinant protein is expressed at high rates. Macromolecular crowding of proteins at concentrations of 200-300 mg/ml in the cytoplasm of E. coli, suggest a highly unfavorable protein-folding environment, especially during recombinant high-level expression (van den Berg et al., 1999). Whether inclusion bodies form through a passive event occurring by hydrophobic interaction between exposed patches on unfolded chains or by specific clustering mechanisms is unknown (Villaverde and Carrio, 2003). The purified aggregates can be solubilized using detergents like urea and guadinium hydrochloride. Native protein can be prepared by in vitro refolding from solubilized inclusion bodies either by dilution, dialysis or on-column refolding methods (Middelberg, 2002; Sørensen et al., 2003a).

Refolding strategies might be improved by inclusion of molecular chaperones (Mogk et al., 2002). Optimization of the refolding procedure for a given protein however require time consuming efforts and is not always conducive to high product yields. A possible strategy for the prevention of inclusion body formation is the co-overexpression of molecular chaperones.

A wide range of protein fusion partners has been developed in order to simplify the purification and expression of recombinant proteins (Stevens, 2000). Fusion proteins or chimeric proteins usually include a partner or “tag” linked to the passenger or target protein by a recognition site for a specific protease. Most fusion partners are exploited for specific affinity purification strategies. Fusion partners are also advantageous in vivo, where they might protect passengers from intracellular proteolysis (Jacquet et al., 1999; Martinez et al., 1995), enhance solubility (Davis et al., 1999; Kapust and Waugh, 1999; Sørensen et al., 2003b) or be used as specific expression reporters (Waldo et al., 1999). High expression levels can often be transferred from a N-terminal fusion partner, to a poorly expressing passenger, most probably as a result of mRNA stabilization (Arechaga et al., 2003). Common affinity tags are the polyhistidine tag (His-tag), which is compatible with immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) and the glutathione S-transferase (GST) tag for purification on glutathione based resins. Several other affinity tags exist and have been extensively reviewed (Terpe, 2003).

Recombinantly expressed proteins can in principle be directed to three different locations namely the cytoplasm, the periplasm or the cultivation medium. Various advantages and disadvantages are related to the direction of a recombinant protein to a specific cellular compartment. Expression in the cytoplasm is normally preferable since production yields are high. Disulfide bond formation is segregated in E. coli and is actively catalyzed in the periplasm by the Dsb system (Rietsch and Beckwith, 1998). Reduction of cysteines in the cytoplasm is achieved by thioredoxin and glutaredoxin. Thioredoxin is kept reduced by thioredoxin reductase and glutaredoxin by glutathione. The low molecular weight glutathione molecule is reduced by glutathione reductase. Disruption of the trxB and gor genes encoding the two reductases, allow the formation of disulfide bonds in the E. coli cytoplasm.

Cell-based expression systems have drawbacks in terms of the quality and quantity of the proteins produced and are not always appropriate for high-throughput production. Many of these shortcomings can be circumvented by the use of cell-free translation systems.

Cell-free systems for in vitro gene expression and protein synthesis have been described for many different prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems (see Endo & Sawasaki Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2006, 17:373-380. Eukaryotic cell-free systems, such as rabbit reticulocyte lysate and wheat germ extract, are prepared from crude extract containing all the components required for translation of in vitro-transcribed RNA templates. Eukaryotic cell-free systems use isolated RNA synthesized in vivo or in vitro as a template for the translation reaction (e.g., Rabbit Reticulocyte Lysate Systems or Wheat Germ Extract Systems). Coupled eukaryotic cell-free systems combine a prokaryotic phage RNA polymerase with eukaryotic extracts and utilize an exogenous DNA or PCR-generated templates with a phage promoter for in vitro protein synthesis (e.g., TNT® Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate

Proteins translated using the TNT® Coupled Systems can be used in many types of functional studies. TNT® Coupled Transcription/Translation reactions have traditionally been used to confirm open reading frames, study protein mutations and make proteins in vitro for protein-DNA binding studies, protein activity assays, or protein-protein interaction studies. Recently, proteins expressed using the TNT® Coupled Systems have also been used in assays to confirm yeast two-hybrid interactions, perform in vitro expression cloning (IVEC) and make protein substrates for enzyme activity or protein modification assays. For a listing of recent citations using the TNT® Coupled Systems in various applications, please visit: www.promega.com/citations/

Transcription and translation are typically coupled in prokaryotic systems; that is, they contain an endogenous or phage RNA polymerase, which transcribes mRNA from an exogenous DNA template. This RNA is then used as a template for translation. The DNA template may be either a gene cloned into a plasmid vector (cDNA) or a PCR(a)-generated template. A ribosome binding site (RBS) is required for templates translated in prokaryotic systems. During transcription, the 5′-end of the mRNA becomes available for ribosome binding and translation initiation, allowing transcription and translation to occur simultaneously. Prokaryotic systems are available that use DNA templates containing either prokaryotic promoters (such as lac or tac; E. coli S30 Extract System for Circular and Linear DNA or a phage RNA polymerase promoter; E. coli T7 S30 Extract System for Circular DNA Solubility of a purified peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide can be improved by methods known in the art. For example, to increase the solubility of an expressed protein (e.g., in E. coli), one can reduce the rate of protein synthesis by lowering the growth temperature, using a weaker promoter, using a lower copy number plasmid, lowering the inducer concentration, changing the growth medium as described in Georgiou & Valax (Current Opinion Biotechnol. 7:190-197 (1996)). This decreases the rate of protein synthesis and usually more soluble protein is obtained. One can also add prostethic groups or co-factors which are essential for proper folding or for protein stability, or add buffer to control pH fluctuation in the medium during growth, or add 1% glucose to repress induction of the lac promoter by lactose, which is present in most rich media (such as LB, 2×YT). Polyols (e.g., sorbitol) and sucrose may also be added to the media because the increase in osmotic pressure caused by these additions leads to the accumulation of osmoprotectants in the cell, which stabilize the native protein structure. Ethanol, low molecular weight thiols and disulfides, and NaCl may be added. In addition, chaperones and/or foldases may be co-expressed with the desired polypeptide. Molecular chaperones promote the proper isomerization and cellular targeting by transiently interacting with folding intermediates. E. coli chaperone systems include but, are not limited to: GroES-GroEL, DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE, CIpB.

Foldases accelerate rate-limiting steps along the folding pathway. Three types of foldases play an important role: peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPI's), disulfide oxidoreductase (DsbA) and disulfide isomerase (DsbC), protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) which is an eukaryotic protein that catalyzes both protein cysteine oxidation and disulfide bond isomerization. Co-expression of one or more of these proteins with the target protein could lead to higher levels of soluble target protein.

A peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide can be produced as a fusion protein in order to improve its solubility and production. The fusion protein comprises a peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide and a second polypeptide fused together in frame. The second polypeptide may be a fusion partner known in the art to improve the solubility of the polypeptide to which it is fused, for example, NusA, bacterioferritin (BFR), GrpE, thioredoxin (TRX) and glutathione-S— transferase (GST). Novagen Inc. (Madison, Wis.) provides the pET 43.1 vector series which permit the formation of a NusA-target fusion. DsbA and DsbC have also shown positive effects on expression levels when used as a fusion partner, therefore can be used to fuse with a peptide ligand domain for achieving higher solubility.

In an aspect of such fusion proteins, the expressed peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide includes a linker polypeptide comprises a protease cleavage site comprising a peptide bond which is hydrolyzable by a protease. As a result, the peptide ligand domain in a polypeptide can be separated from the remainder of the polypeptide after expression by proteolysis. The linker can comprise one or more additional amino acids on either side of the bond to which the catalytic site of the protease also binds (see, e.g., Schecter & Berger, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 27, 157-62 (1967)). Alternatively, the cleavage site of the linker can be separate from the recognition site of the protease and the two cleavage site and recognition site can be separated by one or more (e.g., two to four) amino acids. In one aspect, the linker comprises at least about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, about 10, about 20, about 30, about 40, about 50 or more amino acids. More preferably the linker is from about 5 to about 25 amino acids in length, and most preferably, the linker is from about 8 to about 15 amino acids in length.

Some proteases useful according to the invention are discussed in the following references: Hooper et al., Biochem. J. 321: 265-279 (1997); Werb, Cell 91: 439-442 (1997); Wolfsberg et al., J. Cell Biol. 131: 275-278 (1995); Murakami & Etlinger, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 146: 1249-1259 (1987); Berg et al., Biochem. J. 307: 313-326 (1995); Smyth and Trapani, Immunology Today 16: 202-206 (1995); Talanian et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272: 9677-9682 (1997); and Thornberry et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272: 17907-17911 (1997). Cell surface proteases also can be used with cleavable linkers according to the invention and include, but are not limited to: Aminopeptidase N; Puromycin sensitive aminopeptidase; Angiotensin converting enzyme; Pyroglutamyl peptidase II; Dipeptidyl peptidase IV; N-arginine dibasic convertase; Endopeptidase 24.15; Endopeptidase 24.16; Amyloid precursor protein secretases alpha, beta and gamma; Angiotensin converting enzyme secretase; TGF alpha secretase; TNF alpha secretase; FAS ligand secretase; TNF receptor-I and -II secretases; CD30 secretase; KL1 and KL2 secretases; IL6 receptor secretase; CD43, CD44 secretase; CD16-I and CD16-II secretases; L-selectin secretase; Folate receptor secretase; MMP 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15; Urokinase plasminogen activator; Tissue plasminogen activator; Plasmin; Thrombin; BMP-1 (procollagen C-peptidase); ADAM 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11; and, Granzymes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.

An alternative to relying on cell-associated proteases is to use a self-cleaving linker. For example, the foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) 2A protease may be used as a linker. This is a short polypeptide of 17 amino acids that cleaves the polyprotein of FMDV at the 2A/2B junction. The sequence of the FMDV 2A propeptide is NFDLLKLAGDVESNPGP. Cleavage occurs at the C-terminus of the peptide at the final glycine-proline amino acid pair and is independent of the presence of other FMDV sequences and cleaves even in the presence of heterologous sequences.

Affinity chromatography can be used alone or in conjunction with ion-exchange, molecular sizing, or HPLC chromatographic techniques in the purification of peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides. Such chromatographic approach can be performed using columns or in batch formats. Such chromatographic purification methods are well known in the art.

Additionally, the invention provides for isolated nucleic acids encoding peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides with one or more amino acid substitutions and insertions or deletions of from about 1 to about 5 amino acids, preferably from about 1 to about 3 amino acids, more preferably 1 amino acid, in the SEQ ID NOs: 1-117 sequences, wherein the relevant properties that are substantially similar to the properties exhibited by the original sequence.

Mutagenesis can be undertaken by any of several methods known in the art. Generally, mutagenesis can be accomplished by cloning the nucleic acid sequence into a plasmid or some other vector for ease of manipulation of the sequence. Then, a unique restriction site at which further nucleic acids can be added into the nucleic acid sequence is identified or inserted into the nucleic acid sequence. A double-stranded synthetic oligonucleotide generally is created from overlapping synthetic single-stranded sense and antisense oligonucleotides such that the double-stranded oligonucleotide incorporates the restriction sites flanking the target sequence and, for instance, can be used to incorporate replacement DNA. The plasmid or other vector is cleaved with the restriction enzyme, and the oligonucleotide sequence having compatible cohesive ends is ligated into the plasmid or other vector to replace the original DNA.

Other means of in vitro site-directed mutagenesis are known to those skilled in the art, and can be accomplished (in particular, using an overlap-extension polymerase chain reaction (PCR), see, e.g., Parikh & Guengerich, Biotechniques 24:428-431 (1998)). Complementary primers overlapping the site of change can be used to PCR amplify the whole plasmid in a mixture containing 500 mM dNTPs, 2 units of Pfu polymerase, 250 ng each of sense and antisense primers, and 200 ng of plasmid DNA comprising a sequence encoding Peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide. The PCR desirably involves 18 cycles with an extension time of 2.5 minutes for each Kb of DNA. The PCR products can be treated with DpnI (which only digests the adenine-methylated plasmid DNA) and transformed into Escherichia coli DH5α cells. Transformants can be screened by restriction enzyme digestion for incorporation of the changes, which then can be confirmed by DNA sequence analysis.

Suitable methods of protein detection and quantification of peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides include Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), silver staining, the BCA assay (see, e.g., Smith et al., Anal. Biochem., 150, 76-85 (1985)), the Lowry protein assay (described in, e.g., Lowry et al., J. Biol. Chem., 193, 265-275 (1951)) which is a colorimetric assay based on protein-copper complexes, and the Bradford protein assay (described in, e.g., Bradford et al., Anal. Biochem., 72, 248 (1976)) which depends upon the change in absorbance in Coomassie Blue G-250 upon protein binding. Once expressed, the peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptides can be purified by traditional purification methods such as ionic exchange, size exclusion, or C18 chromatography.

III. Methods of Coupling Peptide Ligand Domains

Methods for “coupling” (or “conjugation” or “cross-linking”) of suitable active agents such as, e.g., therapeutics, chemotherapeutics, radionuclides, polypeptides, and the like, to peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide are well described in the art. In preparing the conjugates provided herein, the active agent is linked either directly or indirectly peptide ligand domain by any method presently known in the art for attaching two moieties, so long as the attachment of the conjugating or coupling moiety to the peptide ligand domain does not substantially impede its function of the peptide ligand domain or substantially impede the function of the active agent. The coupling can be by any suitable means, including, but are not limited to, ionic and covalent bonds, and any other sufficiently stable association, whereby the targeted agent's distribution will be modulated.

Numerous heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents that are used to form covalent bonds between amino groups and thiol groups and to introduce thiol groups into proteins, are known to those of skill in this art (see, e.g., Cumber et al. (1992) Bioconjugate Chem. 3′:397 401; Thorpe et al. (1987) Cancer Res. 47:5924 5931; Gordon et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 84:308 312; Walden et al. (1986) J. Mol. Cell. Immunol. 2:191 197; Carlsson et al. (1978) Biochem. J. 173: 723 737; Mahan et al. (1987) Anal. Biochem. 162:163 170; Wawryznaczak et al. (1992) Br. J. Cancer 66:361 366; Fattom et al. (1992) Infection & Immun. 60:584 589). These reagents may be used to form covalent bonds between a peptide ligand domain or a peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide and any of the active agents disclosed herein. These reagents include, but are not limited to: N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP; disulfide linker); sulfosuccinimidyl 6-[3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionamido]hexanoate (sulfo-LC-SPDP); succinimidyloxycarbonyl-α-methyl benzyl thiosulfate (SMBT, hindered disulfate linker); succinimidyl 6-[3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionamido]hexanoate (LC-SPDP); sulfosuccinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (sulfo-SMCC); succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)butyrate (SPDB; hindered disulfide bond linker); sulfosuccinimidyl 2-(7-azido-4-methylcoumarin-3-acetamide) ethyl-1,3-dithiopropionate (SAED); sulfo-succinimidyl 7-azido-4-methylcoumarin-3-acetate (SAMCA); sulfosuccinimidyl 6-[alpha-methyl-alpha-(2-pyridyldithio)toluamido]hexanoate (sulfo-LC-SMPT); 1,4-di-[3′-(2′-pyridyldithio)propionamido]butane (DPDPB); 4-succinimidyloxycarbonyl-α-methyl-α.-(2-pyridylthio)-toluene (SMPT, hindered disulfate linker); sulfosuccinimidyl6[α.-methyl-α.-(2-pyridyldithio)toluamido]hexa-noate (sulfo-LC-SMPT); m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS); m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide ester (sulfo-MBS); N-succinimidyl(4-iodoacetyl)aminobenzoate (SIAB; thioether linker); sulfosuccinimidyl(4-iodoacetyl)amino benzoate (sulfo-SIAB); succinimidyl-4(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrate (SMPB); sulfosuccinimidyl-4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrate (sulfo-SMPB); azidobenzoyl hydrazide (ABH).

Other heterobifunctional cleavable coupling agents include, N-succinimidyl (4-iodoacetyl)-aminobenzoate; sulfosuccinimydil (4-iodoacetyl)-aminobenzoate; 4-succinimidyl-oxycarbonyl-a-(2-pyridyldithio)-toluene; sulfosuccinimidyl-6-[a-methyl-a-(pyridyldithiol)-toluamido]hexanoate; N-succinimidyl-3-(-2-pyridyldithio)-proprionate; succinimidyl 6[3(-(-2-pyridyldithio)-proprionamido]hexanoate; sulfosuccinimidyl 6[3(-(-2-pyridyldithio)-propionamido]hexanoate; 3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionyl hydrazide, Ellman's reagent, dichlorotriazinic acid, S-(2-thiopyridyl)-L-cysteine. Further exemplary bifunctional linking compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,349,066, 5,618,528, 4,569,789, 4,952,394, and 5,137,877.

Alternatively, e.g., polypeptide suflhydryl groups can be used for conjugation. In addition, sugar moieties bound to glycoproteins, e.g., antibodies can be oxidized to form aldehydes groups useful in a number of coupling procedures known in the art. The conjugates formed in accordance with the invention can be stable in vivo or labile, such as enzymatically degradeable tetrapeptide linakages or acid-labile cis-aconityl or hydrazone linkages.

The peptide ligand domain-containg polypeptide is optionally linked to the active agent via one or more linkers. The linker moiety is selected depending upon the properties desired. For example, the length of the linker moiety can be chosen to optimize the kinetics and specificity of ligand binding, including any conformational changes induced by binding of the ligand to a target receptor. The linker moiety should be long enough and flexible enough to allow the polypeptide ligand moiety and the target cell receptor to freely interact. If the linker is too short or too stiff, there may be steric hindrance between the polypeptide ligand moiety and the cell toxin. If the linker moiety is too long, the active agent may be degraded in the process of production, or may not deliver its desired effect to the target cell effectively.

Any suitable linker known to those of skill in the art can be used herein. Generally a different set of linkers will be used in conjugates that are fusion proteins from linkers in chemically-produced conjugates. Linkers and linkages that are suitable for chemically linked conjugates include, but are not limited to, disulfide bonds, thioether bonds, hindered disulfide bonds, and covalent bonds between free reactive groups, such as amine and thiol groups. These bonds are produced using heterobifunctional reagents to produce reactive thiol groups on one or both of the polypeptides and then reacting the thiol groups on one polypeptide with reactive thiol groups or amine groups to which reactive maleimido groups or thiol groups can be attached on the other. Other linkers include, acid cleavable linkers, such as bismaleimideothoxy propane, acid labile-transferrin conjugates and adipic acid diihydrazide, that would be cleaved in more acidic intracellular compartments; cross linkers that are cleaved upon exposure to UV or visible light and linkers. In some embodiments, several linkers may be included in order to take advantage of desired properties of each linker. Chemical linkers and peptide linkers may be inserted by covalently coupling the linker to the peptide ligand domain-containg polypeptide and the targeted agent. The heterobifunctional agents, described below, may be used to effect such covalent coupling. Peptide linkers may also be linked by expressing DNA encoding the linker and peptide ligand domain, linker and active agent, or peptide ligand domain, linker and active agent as a fusion protein. Flexible linkers and linkers that increase solubility of the conjugates are contemplated for use, either alone or with other linkers are also contemplated herein.

Accordingly, linkers can include, but are not limited to, peptidic linkages, amino acid and peptide linkages, typically containing between one and about 30 amino acids, more preferably between about 10 and 30 amino acids. Alternatively, chemical linkers, such as heterobifunctional cleavable cross-linkers, including but are not limited to, N-succinimidyl (4-iodoacetyl)-aminobenzoate, sulfosuccinimydil(4-iodoacetyl)-aminobenzoate, 4-succinimidyl-oxycarbonyl-a-(2-pyridyldithio)toluene, sulfosuccinimidyl-6-a-methyl-a-(pyridyldithiol)-toluamido)hexanoate, N-succinimidyl-3-(-2-pyridyldithio)-proprionate, succinimidyl 6(3(-(-2-pyridyldithio)-proprionamido)hexanoate, sulfosuccinimidyl 6(3(-(-2-pyridyldithio)-propionamido)hexanoate, 3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionyl hydrazide, Ellman's reagent, dichlorotriazinic acid, and S-(2-thiopyridyl)-L-cysteine.

Other linkers, include trityl linkers, particularly, derivatized trityl groups to generate a genus of conjugates that provide for release of therapeutic agents at various degrees of acidity or alkalinity. The flexibility thus afforded by the ability to preselect the pH range at which the therapeutic agent will be released allows selection of a linker based on the known physiological differences between tissues in need of delivery of a therapeutic agent (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,474). For example, the acidity of tumor tissues appears to be lower than that of normal tissues.

Acid cleavable linkers, photocleavable and heat sensitive linkers may also be used, particularly where it may be necessary to cleave the targeted agent to permit it to be more readily accessible to reaction. Acid cleavable linkers include, but are not limited to, bismaleimideothoxy propane; and adipic acid dihydrazide linkers (see, e.g., Fattom et al. (1992) Infection & Immun. 60:584 589) and acid labile transferrin conjugates that contain a sufficient portion of transferrin to permit entry into the intracellular transferrin cycling pathway (see, e.g., Welhoner et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266:4309 4314).

Photocleavable linkers are linkers that are cleaved upon exposure to light (see, e.g., Goldmacher et al. (1992) Bioconj. Chem. 3:104 107, which linkers are herein incorporated by reference), thereby releasing the targeted agent upon exposure to light. Photocleavable linkers that are cleaved upon exposure to light are known (see, e.g., Hazum et al. (1981) in Pept., Proc. Eur. Pept. Symp., 16th, Brunfeldt, K (Ed), pp. 105 110, which describes the use of a nitrobenzyl group as a photocleavable protective group for cysteine; Yen et al. (1989) Makromol. Chem. 190:69 82, which describes water soluble photocleavable copolymers, including hydroxypropylmethacrylamide copolymer, glycine copolymer, fluorescein copolymer and methylrhodamine copolymer; Goldmacher et al. (1992) Bioconj. Chem. 3:104 107, which describes a cross-linker and reagent that undergoes photolytic degradation upon exposure to near UV light (350 nm); and Senter et al. (1985) Photochem. Photobiol 42:231 237, which describes nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl chloride cross linking reagents that produce photocleavable linkages), thereby releasing the targeted agent upon exposure to light. Such linkers would have particular use in treating dermatological or ophthalmic conditions that can be exposed to light using fiber optics. After administration of the conjugate, the eye or skin or other body part can be exposed to light, resulting in release of the targeted moiety from the conjugate. Such photocleavable linkers are useful in connection with diagnostic protocols in which it is desirable to remove the targeting agent to permit rapid clearance from the body of the animal.

IV. The Invention Provides a Plurality of Active Agents

The various aspects of the present invention contemplate that the peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide is coupled to an active agent, i.e., a therapeutic or diagnostic agent.

As used herein, the term “therapeutic agent” refers to a chemical compound, a biological macromolecule, or an extract made from biological materials such as bacteria, plants, fungi, or animal (particularly mammalian) cells or tissues that are suspected of having therapeutic properties, e.g., chemotherapeutic agent or radiotherapy agent. The term “therapeutic” as used herein refers to ameliorating the effects of curing or preventing (illustrated by the prevention or lessening the chance of a targeted disease, e.g., cancer or other proliferative disease) a disease or related condition afflicting a subject mammal. Curative therapy refers alleviating, in whole or in part, an existing disease or condition in a mammal.

The agent can be purified, substantially purified or partially purified. Further, such a therapeutic agent can be in or associated with a liposome or immunoliposome and the conjugation can be directly to the agent or to the liposome/immunoliposome. A “liposome” is a small vesicle composed of various types of lipids, phospholipids and/or surfactant which is useful for delivery of a drug (e.g., drugs, antibodies, toxins). The components of the liposome are commonly arranged in a bilayer formation, similar to the lipid arrangement of biological membranes.

Illustrative of the therapeutic agents which can be coupled to the peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide in the manner contemplated by the present invention include, without limitation, chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., docetaxel, paclitaxel, taxanes and platinum compounds), antifolates, antimetabolites, antimitotics, DNA damaging agents, proapoptotics, differentiation inducing agents, antiangiogenic agents, antibiotics, hormones, peptides, antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, biologically active agents, biological molecules, radionuclides, adriamycin, ansamycin antibiotics, asparaginase, bleomycin, busulphan, cisplatin, carboplatin, carmustine, capecitabine, chlorambucil, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, camptothecin, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, dexrazoxane, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, epothilones, floxuridine, fludarabine, fluorouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, idarubicin, ifosfamide, irinotecan, lomustine, mechlorethamine, mercaptopurine, meplhalan, methotrexate, rapamycin (sirolimus), mitomycin, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nitrosurea, paclitaxel, pamidronate, pentostatin, plicamycin, procarbazine, rituximab, streptozocin, teniposide, thioguanine, thiotepa, taxanes, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, taxol, combretastatins, discodermolides, transplatinum, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein), and other chemotherapeutic agents.

As used herein, the term “chemotherapeutic agent” refers to an agent with activity against cancer, neoplastic, and/or proliferative diseases. Preferred chemotherapeutic agents include docetaxel and paclitaxel as particles comprising albumin wherein more than 50% of the chemotherapeutic agent is in nanoparticle form. Most preferably, the chemotherapeutic agent comprises particles of albumin-bound paclitaxel, e.g., Abraxane®.

Suitable therapeutic agents also include, e.g., biologically active agents (TNF, of tTF), radionuclides (131I, 90Y, 111In, 211At, 32P and other known therapeutic radionuclides), antiangiogenesis agents (angiogenesis inhibitors, e.g., INF-alpha, fumagillin, angiostatin, endostatin, thalidomide, and the like), other biologically active polypeptides, therapy sensitizers, antibodies, lectins, and toxins.

Suitable diseases for the application of the invention include malignant and premalignant conditions, as well as proliferative disease, including but, not limited to, where the proliferative diseases is, e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia, endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, an immunologic proliferation or a proliferative renal glomerulopathy.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” it is meant an amount that returns to normal, either partially or completely, physiological or biochemical parameters associated with or causative of a disease or condition. A clinician skilled in the art should be able to determine amount of the pharmaceutical composition that will be therapeutically effective relative to a particular disease or condition. By way of example, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment wherein the therapeutic agent is paclitaxel, the paclitaxel dose administered can range from about 30 mg/m² to about 1000 mg/m² with a dosing cycle of about 3 weeks (i.e., administration of the paclitaxel dose once every about three weeks), desirably from about 50 mg/m² to about 800 mg/m², preferably from about 80 mg/m² to about 700 mg/m², and most preferably from about 250 mg/m² to about 300 mg/m² with a dosing cycle of about 3 weeks, preferably a cycle of about 2 weeks, more preferably weekly cycles.

The present invention also has diagnostic aspects. For example, the diagnostic agent can be a tracer or label, including, without limitation, radioactive agents, MRI contrast agents, X-ray contrast agents, ultrasound contrast agents, and PET contrast agents. The coupling of these agents, described in connection with therapeutic agents, is also contemplated by this aspect of the invention. Further, the term “diagnostically effective amount” is an amount of the pharmaceutical composition that in relevant clinical settings allows for a reasonably accurate determination of the presence and/or extent of abnormal proliferative, hyperplastic, remodeling, inflammatory activity in tissues and organs. For example, the condition “diagnosed” in accordance with the invention can be a benign or malignant tumor.

The diagnostic agents taught herein include polypeptides, such as antibodies, which can be labeled by joining, either covalently or non-covalently, a substance which provides for a detectable signal. A wide variety of labels and conjugation techniques are known and are reported extensively in both the scientific and patent literature. Suitable labels include radionuclides, enzymes, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent moieties, chemiluminescent moieties, magnetic particles, and the like. Patents, teaching the use of such labels include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,837; 3,850,752; 3,939,350; 3,996,345; 4,277,437; 4,275,149; and 4,366,241. Also, recombinant immunoglobulins may be produced, see Cabilly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Moore, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,334; and Queen, et al. (1989) Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 86:10029-10033.

The delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic agents to a tumor or other disease site by inventive compositions and methods can be monitored and measured by any suitable method including, e.g., adding a radioactive label or radio-opaque label to the composition and imaging as is appropriate and well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The sequesteration of compositions in the plasma compartment can be monitored by any suitable method including, e.g., venupuncture.

Further, and in a related aspect, the invention provides a method of predicting or determining a tumor's response to a chemotherapeutic agent, as well as a method of predicting or determining a proliferative disease's response to a chemotherapeutic agent or treating a proliferative disease, including but, not limited to, where the proliferative diseases is, e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia, endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, immunologic proliferation or a proliferative renal glomerulopathy.

V. The Invention Provides Fusion Proteins which Couple Peptide Ligand Domains to Polypeptide Active Agents

The present invention further contemplates the coupling of peptide ligand domains to polypeptide active agents in fusion proteins. For example, and without limitation, peptide ligand domain sequences can be fused upstream or downstream of diagnostically useful protein domains (such as hapten, GFP), a therapy sensitizer, active protein domains (e.g., without limitation, tTF, TNF, Smar1 derived p44 peptide, interferon, TRAIL, Smac, VHL, procaspase, caspase, and IL-2) or toxin (e.g., without limitation, ricin, PAP, Diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin)

A “fusion protein” and a “fusion polypeptide” refer to a polypeptide having at least two portions covalently linked together, where each of the portions is a polypeptide having a different property. The property can be a biological property, such as activity in vitro or in vivo. The property can also be a simple chemical or physical property, such as binding to a target molecule, catalysis of a reaction, and the like. The portions can be linked directly by a single peptide bond or through a peptide linker containing one or more amino acid residues. Generally, the portions and the linker will be in reading frame with each other.

VI. Antibody or Antibody Fragment Active Agents

In a particular aspect of the invention, the therapeutic agent can be an antibody or antibody fragment which mediates one or more of complement activation, cell mediated cytotoxicity, apoptosis, necrotic cell death, and opsinization.

The term “antibody” herein is includes, without limitation, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, dimers, multimers, multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies). Antibodies can be murine, human, humanized, chimeric, or derived from other species. An antibody is a protein generated by the immune system that is capable of recognizing and binding to a specific antigen. A target antigen generally has numerous binding sites, also called epitopes, recognized by CDRs on multiple antibodies. Each antibody that specifically binds to a different epitope has a different structure. Thus, one antigen can have more than one corresponding antibody. An antibody includes a full-length immunoglobulin molecule or an immunologically active portion of a full-length immunoglobulin molecule, i.e., a molecule that contains an antigen binding site that immunospecifically binds an antigen of a target of interest or part thereof, such targets including but not limited to, cancer cell or cells that produce autoimmune antibodies associated with an autoimmune disease. The immunoglobulin disclosed herein can be of any class (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, and IgA) or subclass (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2) of immunoglobulin molecule. The immunoglobulins can be derived from any species.

“Antibody fragments” comprise a portion of a full length antibody, which maintain the desired biological activity. “Antibody fragments” are often the antigen binding or variable region thereof. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies; fragments produced by a Fab expression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies, CDR (complementary determining region), and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above which immunospecifically bind to cancer cell antigens, viral antigens or microbial antigens, single-chain antibody molecules; and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments. However, other non-antigen-binding portions of antibodies can be “antibody fragments” as meant herein, e.g., without limitation, an antibody fragment can be a complete or partial Fc domain.

The monoclonal antibodies herein specifically include “chimeric” antibodies in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567). Chimeric antibodies of interest herein include “primatized” antibodies comprising variable domain antigen-binding sequences derived from a non-human primate (e.g., Old World Monkey or Ape) and human constant region sequences.

“Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity” and “ADCC” refer to a cell-mediated reaction in which nonspecific cytotoxic cells that express Fc receptors (FcRs) (e.g., Natural Killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, and macrophages) recognize bound antibody on a target cell and subsequently cause lysis of the target cell. The primary cells for mediating ADCC, NK cells, express Fc.gamma.RIII only, whereas monocytes express FcγRI, FcγRII and FcγRIII. To assess ADCC activity of a molecule of interest, an in vitro ADCC assay can be performed (U.S. Pat. No. 55,003,621; U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,337). Useful effector cells for such assays include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and Natural Killer (NK) cells. Alternatively, or additionally, ADCC activity of the molecule of interest can be assessed in vivo, e.g., in a animal model such as that disclosed in Clynes et al. PNAS (USA), 95:652-656 (1998).

An antibody which “induces cell death” is one which causes a viable cell to become nonviable. Cell death in vitro can be determined in the absence of complement and immune effector cells to distinguish cell death induced by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Thus, the assay for cell death can be performed using heat inactivated serum (i.e., in the absence of complement) and in the absence of immune effector cells. To determine whether the antibody is able to induce cell death, loss of membrane integrity as evaluated by uptake of propidium iodide (PI), trypan blue or 7AAD can be assessed relative to untreated cells. Cell death-inducing antibodies are those which induce PI uptake in the PI uptake assay in BT474 cells.

An antibody which “induces apoptosis” is one which induces programmed cell death as determined by binding of annexin V, fragmentation of DNA, cell shrinkage, dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, cell fragmentation, and/or formation of membrane vesicles (called apoptotic bodies).

VII. Method of Modulating the Distribution of Active Agents

Another aspect of the present invention takes advantage of the properties of the peptide ligand domain-containing conjugates disclosed herein to provide methods for modulating the distribution of an active agent within the tissue of an animal comprising administering to the animal a composition comprising a conjugate molecule which comprises a peptide ligand domain conjugated to an active agent, wherein the peptide ligand domain comprises a peptide of the SEQ ID NOs: 1-137, 139 or 140, or 141-143 or homologs thereof, and wherein the administration of the composition to an animal results in a tissue distribution of the active agent which is different from the tissue distribution obtained upon administration of the active agent alone.

The compositions and methods of the present invention desirably provide for modulated tissue distribution of the active agent to a disease site. This desirably manifests itself in providing a concentration of the active agent at a disease site, and/or an increased or prolonged (half-life) blood level of the active agent, which is greater than that which would be provided if the active agent (in unconjugated form) was administered to the animal. This modulation may also manifest itself by enhancing the rate of tissue uptake of the conjugated peptide molecule, increasing the retention of the molecule at its target site, ie. at the tumor, enhancing the rate of diffusion of the conjugated peptide molecule in the tissue, and/or enhancing the distribution of the conjugated peptide molecule through the tissue, and matching the rate of tissue uptake of the conjugated peptide molecule to the rate of internalization of one or more tissue receptors. Such enhancements can be measured by any suitable method known in the art including, without limitation, the detection, localization and relative quantization of suitably labeled active agent, e.g., using radiographic, microscopic, chemical, immunologic or MRI techniques.

By “enhancing the rate” it is meant a rate that is that is at least about 33% greater, preferably at least about 25% greater, more preferably at least about 15% greater, most preferably at least about 10% greater. By a “greater concentration at a disease site” it is meant a concentration of the active agent in the conjugate at a disease site that is at least about 33% greater, preferably at least about 25% greater, more preferably at least about 15% greater, most preferably at least about 10% greater than the concentration of the unconjugated active agent at a comparable disease site.

Suitable disease sites include, without limitation, the sites of abnormal conditions of proliferation, tissue remodeling, hyperplasia, exaggerated wound healing in any bodily tissue including soft tissue, connective tissue, bone, solid organs, blood vessel and the like. More specific examples of such diseases include cancer, diabetic or other retinopathy, inflammation, fibrosis, arthritis, restenosis in blood vessels or artificial blood vessel grafts or intravascular devices and the like, cataract and macular degeneration, osteoporosis and other diseases of the bone, atherosclerosis and other diseases where calcification is frequently observed.

In a preferred aspect, the invention provides methods of diagnosing and/or treating a tumor, wherein the tumor is selected from the group consisting of oral cavity tumors, pharyngeal tumors, digestive system tumors, the respiratory system tumors, bone tumors, cartilaginous tumors, bone metastases, sarcomas, skin tumors, melanoma, breast tumors, the genital system tumors, urinary tract tumors, orbital tumors, brain and central nervous system tumors, gliomas, endocrine system tumors, thyroid tumors, esophageal tumors, gastric tumors, small intestinal tumors, colonic tumors, rectal tumors, anal tumors, liver tumors, gall bladder tumors, pancreatic tumors, laryngeal tumors, tumors of the lung, bronchial tumors, non-small cell lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, uterine cervical tumors, uterine corpus tumors, ovarian tumors, vulvar tumors, vaginal tumors, prostate tumors, prostatic carcinoma, testicular tumors, tumors of the penis, urinary bladder tumors, tumors of the kidney, tumors of the renal pelvis, tumors of the ureter, head and neck tumors, parathyroid cancer, Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia. In addition, the invention provides for method of predicting or determining a tumor's response to a chemotherapeutic agent, methods of treating a tumor, and kits for predicting the response of a mammalian tumor to a chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the tumor is a sarcoma, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, oncytoma or combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the invention provides compositions and methods of use of said compositions, wherein administering the composition to an animal results in a blood level of the active agent which is greater than the blood level obtained upon administration of the active agent alone. Any suitable measure of the active agent's blood level can be used, including without limitation, C_(max), C_(min), and AUC. By “greater than the blood level obtained upon administration of the active agent alone” it is meant a blood level that is at least about 33% greater, preferably at least about 25% greater, more preferably at least about 15% greater, most preferably at least about 10% greater.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides compositions and methods of use of said compositions, wherein the administration of the composition to an animal results in a blood level half-life of the active agent which is greater than the blood level half-life obtained upon administration of the active agent alone. By “greater than the blood half-life obtained upon administration of the active agent alone” it is meant a half-life that is at least about 33% greater, preferably at least about 25% greater, more preferably at least about 15% greater, most preferably at least about 10% greater.

VIII. Formulations and Administration

For use in vivo, the active agent coupled a peptide ligand domain, such as the SEQ ID NOs: 1-117 and homologs thereof, is desirably is formulated into a pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier. Any suitable physiologically acceptable carrier can be used within the context of the invention, depending on the route of administration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate those carriers that can be used in to provide a pharmaceutical composition suitable for the desired method of administration.

The administration of the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be accomplished via any suitable route including, but not limited to, intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intratumoral, oral, rectal, vaginal, intravesical, and inhalational administration, with intravenous and intratumoral administration being most preferred. The composition can further comprise any other suitable components, especially for enhancing the stability of the composition and/or its end use. Accordingly, there is a wide variety of suitable formulations of the composition of the invention. The following formulations and methods are merely exemplary and are in no way limiting.

The pharmaceutical compositions can also include, if desired, additional therapeutic or biologically-active agents. For example, therapeutic factors useful in the treatment of a particular indication can be present. Factors that control inflammation, such as ibuprofen or steroids, can be part of the composition to reduce swelling and inflammation associated with in vivo administration of the pharmaceutical composition and physiological distress.

The carrier typically will be liquid, but also can be solid, or a combination of liquid and solid components. The carrier desirably is physiologically acceptable (e.g., a pharmaceutically or pharmacologically acceptable) carrier (e.g., excipient or diluent). Physiologically acceptable carriers are well known and are readily available. The choice of carrier will be determined, at least in part, by the location of the target tissue and/or cells, and the particular method used to administer the composition.

Typically, such compositions can be prepared as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions; solid forms suitable for using to prepare solutions or suspensions upon the addition of a liquid prior to injection can also be prepared; and the preparations can also be emulsified. The pharmaceutical formulations suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions; formulations containing known protein stabilizers and lyoprotectants, formulations including sesame oil, peanut oil or aqueous propylene glycol, and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. In all cases the formulation must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. Solutions of the active compounds as free base or pharmacologically acceptable salts can be prepared in water suitably mixed with a surfactant, such as hydroxycellulose. Dispersions can also be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof and in oils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

The peptide ligand domain-containing conjugate, such as can be formulated into a composition in a neutral or salt form. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include the acid addition salts (formed with the free amino groups of the protein) and which are formed with inorganic acids such as, for example, hydrochloric or phosphoric acids, or such as organic acids as acetic, oxalic, tartaric, mandelic, and the like. Salts formed with the free carboxyl groups also can be derived from inorganic bases such as, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, or ferric hydroxides, and such organic bases as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, histidine, procaine and the like.

Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include aqueous and non aqueous, isotonic sterile injection solutions, which can contain anti oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, and solutes that render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient, and aqueous and non aqueous sterile suspensions that can include suspending agents, solubilizers, thickening agents, stabilizers, and preservatives. The formulations can be presented in unit dose or multi dose sealed containers, such as ampules and vials, and can be stored in a freeze dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of a sterile liquid excipient, for example, water, for injections, immediately prior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions can be prepared from sterile powders, granules, and tablets of the kind previously described. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the peptide ligand domain-containing conjugate is formulated for injection (e.g., parenteral administration). In this regard, the formulation desirably is suitable for intratumoral administration, but also can be formulated for intravenous injection, intraperitoneal injection, subcutaneous injection, and the like.

The invention also provides, if desirable, embodiments in which the peptide ligand domain-containing conjugate (i.e., the peptide ligand domain-containing polypeptide conjugated to an active agent) is further conjugated to polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEG conjugation can increase the circulating half-life of these polypeptides, reduce the polypeptide's immunogenicity and antigenicity, and improve their bioactivity. If used, any suitable method of PEG conjugation can be used, including but not limited to, reacting methoxy-PEG with a peptide's available amino group(s) or other reactive sites such as, e.g., histidines or cysteines. In addition, recombinant DNA approaches can be used to add amino acids with PEG-reactive groups to the peptide ligand domain-containing conjugate. Further, releasable and hybrid PEG-ylation strategies can be used in accordance with the aspects of the present invention, such as the PEG-ylation of polypeptide, wherein the PEG molecules added to certain sites in the peptide ligand domain-containing conjugatemolecule are released in vivo. Examples of PEG conjugation methods are known in the art. See, e.g., Greenwald et al., Adv. Drug Delivery Rev. 55:217-250 (2003).

Formulations suitable for administration via inhalation include aerosol formulations. The aerosol formulations can be placed into pressurized acceptable propellants, such as dichlorodifluoromethane, propane, nitrogen, and the like. They also can be formulated as non pressurized preparations, for delivery from a nebulizer or an atomizer.

Formulations suitable for anal administration can be prepared as suppositories by mixing the active ingredient with a variety of bases such as emulsifying bases or water soluble bases. Formulations suitable for vaginal administration can be presented as pessaries, tampons, creams, gels, pastes, foams, or spray formulas containing, in addition to the active ingredient, such carriers as are known in the art to be appropriate.

In addition, the composition of the invention can comprise additional therapeutic or biologically active agents. For example, therapeutic factors useful in the treatment of a particular indication can be present. Factors that control inflammation, such as ibuprofen or steroids, can be part of the composition to reduce swelling and inflammation associated with in vivo administration of the pharmaceutical composition and physiological distress.

In the case of inhalational therapy, the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is desirably in the form of an aerosol. Aerosol and spray generators for administering the agent if in solid form are available. These generators provide particles that are respirable or inhalable, and generate a volume of aerosol containing a predetermined metered dose of a medicament at a rate suitable for human administration. Examples of such aerosol and spray generators include metered dose inhalers and insufflators known in the art. If in liquid form, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be aerosolized by any suitable device.

When used in connection with intravenous, intraperitoneal or intratumoral administration, the pharmaceutical composition of the invention can comprise sterile aqueous and non-aqueous injection solutions, suspensions or emulsions of the active compound, which preparations are preferably isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient. These preparations can contain one or more of anti-oxidants, buffers, surfactants, cosolvents, bacteriostats, solutes which render the compositions isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient, and other formulation components known in the art. Aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions can include suspending agents and thickening agents. The compositions can be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealed ampoules and vials.

The methods of the present invention can also be part of combination therapy. The phrase “combination therapy” refers to administering a therapeutic agent in accordance with the invention together with another therapeutic composition in a sequential or concurrent manner such that the beneficial effects of this combination are realized in the mammal undergoing therapy.

XI. The Invention is Applicable to Many Conditions

The compositions and methods of the invention are suitable for use in diagnosing or treating various diseases including, but not limited to, wherein the disease site is, abnormal conditions of proliferation, tissue remodeling, hyperplasia, exaggerated wound healing in any bodily tissue including soft tissue, connective tissue, bone, solid organs, blood vessel and the like. More specific examples of such diseases include cancer, diabetic or other retinopathy, inflammation, fibrosis, arthritis, restenosis in blood vessels or artificial blood vessel grafts or intravascular devices and the like, cataract and macular degeneration, osteoporosis and other diseases of the bone, atherosclerosis and other diseases where calcification is frequently observed.

In a preferred aspect, the invention provides methods of diagnosing and/or treating a tumor, wherein the tumor is selected from the group consisting of oral cavity tumors, pharyngeal tumors, digestive system tumors, the respiratory system tumors, bone tumors, cartilaginous tumors, bone metastases, sarcomas, skin tumors, melanoma, breast tumors, the genital system tumors, urinary tract tumors, orbital tumors, brain and central nervous system tumors, gliomas, endocrine system tumors, thyroid tumors, esophageal tumors, gastric tumors, small intestinal tumors, colonic tumors, rectal tumors, anal tumors, liver tumors, gall bladder tumors, pancreatic tumors, laryngeal tumors, tumors of the lung, bronchial tumors, non-small cell lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, uterine cervical tumors, uterine corpus tumors, ovarian tumors, vulvar tumors, vaginal tumors, prostate tumors, prostatic carcinoma, testicular tumors, tumors of the penis, urinary bladder tumors, tumors of the kidney, tumors of the renal pelvis, tumors of the ureter, head and neck tumors, parathyroid cancer, Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia. In addition, the invention provides for method of predicting or determining a tumor's response to a chemotherapeutic agent, methods of treating a tumor, and kits for predicting the response of a mammalian tumor to a chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the tumor is a sarcoma, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, oncytoma or combinations thereof.

The invention provides for embodiments wherein the disease is in a mammal, including but not limited to, a human.

X. Kits

The invention provides kits for the treatment of tumors comprising a pharmaceutical formulation and instructions for use of the formulation in the treatment of tumors, wherein the pharmaceutical formulation comprises a conjugate molecule which comprises a peptide ligand domain conjugated to an active agent, and wherein the peptide ligand domain comprises a peptide of the SEQ ID NOs: 1-137, 139 or 140, or 141-143, or a homolog thereof, wherein the peptide ligand domain has an affinity for human serum albumin characterized by an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of about 700 μM or less, and, optionally, wherein the conjugate molecule further comprises a second peptide ligand domain, and instructions for use of said kits (e.g., FDA approved package inserts).

The following examples further illustrate the invention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.

Example 1

This Example demonstrates the identification of SPARC binding peptides using the phage display technology and the incorporation of such SPARC binding peptides into molecules for tumor therapy.

Specifically, a major goal was to generate a molecule with a SPARC binding peptide conjugated to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. In particular, the goal was to generate a SPARC binding peptide-Fc fusion protein (FIG. 1), where the antibody Fc domain acts as a therapeutic agent by stimulating immune functions such as, e.g., antibody dependent cytotoxicity (ADC) or cell dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).

The general principle of display methodologies is to link a ligand (peptide, protein) to the gene coding for this ligand (see FIG. 2). In the phage display technique, this is obtained by fusing the ligand gene to the gene coding for a coat protein of a filamentous phage. The recombinant phage genome is then introduced into Escherichia coli where the hybrid protein will be expressed together with all the other phage proteins. The fusion protein will then be incorporated into the phage coat containing the phage genome (containing the ligand gene). The secreted phage particle displaying the ligand can be selected on an immobilized target while all the non-binding phages are washed away. After an elution step, the recovered phage is used to infect E. coli to allow the amplification of this phage for a new round of selection and eventually for the binding analysis.

Accordingly, a commercial peptide phage display library (12-mer peptides in M13) was screened for peptides which bind to SPARC. The target, SPARC is an acidic glycoprotein with a PI of 4.6. By immobilization on 96-wells plates with pH 9.6 coating buffer, Ph.D.-12 peptide library was screened four rounds to select peptide binders using phage display technology. Specifically, bound phages were eluted with an acidic eluting solution in the 1st round of screening. Then the screening stringency was enhanced gradually by decreasing the target protein concentration and increasing the percentage of Tween-20 in washing buffer. At the same time, competitive elution with excess target was adopted to improve the screening specificity. Finally, after four rounds of screening, ssDNA of selected clones were subjected to DNA sequencing. At the same time, the binding of the positive phages to the target protein was validated using phage ELISA.

The results of this screening of a peptide phage display library for SPARC binding peptides are shown in FIGS. 3 & 4. SPARC binding can be quantified by the number of phage clones isolated which encode peptides with the same sequence (FIG. 3) or the avidity of SPARC binding as measured by the binding of peptide-expressing phage to SPARC-coated microtiter plate wells (FIG. 4). Two of the peptides identified by phage display, PD 15 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and PD 21 (SEQ ID NO: 2) were further characterized.

PD 15 and PD 21 were then cloned into the expression vector pFUSE-hIg1-Fc2 (FIG. 5), resulting in plasmids that encode PD 15-Fc and PD 21-Fc fusion proteins (FIG. 6). These fusion proteins were expressed and successfully purified as demonstrated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (FIG. 7).

Protein microarray analysis (see, FIG. 8) of PD 15 and PD 21 showed only minimal cross reactivity with the non-SPARC proteins in 5,000 proteins on the array assayed (Invitrogen, ProtoArray v.3).

Concentration dependent binding ELISA assays demonstrated PD 15 and PD 21 binding to SPARC was shown to be only slightly weaker than that of an anti-SPARC antibody (FIG. 9). The SPARC binding Kd of PD 15 is 4.1±0.6×10⁻⁸ M and that of PD 21 is 1.0±0.7×10⁻⁷ M. (The anti-SPARC antibody tested has a SPARC binding Kd of 6.2±3.4×10⁻⁹ M, i.e., the antibody binds SPARC only slightly more avidly.)

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the co-localization of SPARC (as indicated by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with an anti-SPARC antibody) and the binding of PD 15 and PD 21 in sections of a human brain tumor (which have been epitope tagged for IHC staining.). As shown in FIG. 10, the literature report of stabilin 1 binding to SPARC was not verified, as stab-Fc did not bind to tumor tissue whereas PD15 and PD21 did (FIG. 11).

Sequence homology analysis of the SPARC-binding peptides isolated by phage display demonstrated that a number of the SPARC-binding peptide sequences isolated had sequence identities with a region of the Elastin shown in FIG. 12.

Thus, this Example demonstrates SPARC binding peptides can be identified by phage display and how to further characterize the identified peptides. Of the two clones worked up, PD 15 and PD 21, PD 15 exhibited a higher affinity for SPARC than PD 21 in ELSIA and IHC experiments.

Example 2

The PD 15 and PD 21-Fc fusion proteins were assayed for antitumor activity in a murine-human PC3 prostatecarcinoma xenograft model. Both PD 15 and PD 21-Fc fusion proteins demonstrated statistically significant tumor growth inhibition (FIG. 13). PD15 exhibited better antitumor activity than PD21 against the PC3 xenograft. In a mouse-human HT29 colon xenograft model-PD21 exhibited better antitumor activity than PD 15, with activity closely equivalent to Abraxane (FIG. 14).

Example 3

This Example demonstrates the potential immungenicity of the SPARC-binding peptides.

ProPred is a graphical web tool for predicting MHC class II binding regions in antigenic protein sequences (see Singh et al.: ProPred: prediction of HLA-DR binding sites. Bioinformatics 2001, 17(12):1236-7). The server implement matrix based prediction algorithm, employing amino-acid/position coefficient table deduced from literature. The predicted binders can be visualized either as peaks in graphical interface or as colored residues in HTML interface. This server might be a useful tool in locating the promiscuous binding regions that can bind to several HLA-DR alleles.

The results of a ProPred analysis of SPARC-binding peptides identified with phage display, including PD 21 and PD 15 indicate that only a few HLA-DR molecules will present these peptides and suggest that the peptides will not be very immunogenic.

Any peptide disclosed herein, including, e.g., SEQ ID: 1-112 or 117, showing high affinity can be similarly analyzed for low or no immunogenicity.

Example 4

Antibody fragments also can be displayed on phages using different formats. Single Chain Variable Fragment (scFv) is a fusion of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of immunoglobulins, linked together with a short (usually serine, glycine) linker. This chimeric molecule retains the specificity of the original immunoglobulin, despite removal of the constant regions and the introduction of a linker peptide. The most common formats for antibody phage display include the use of scFv libraries. Large collections of antibody variants can thus be screened for the presence of an antigen-binding clone.

The overall strategy was to first, screen a human antibody phage display libraries by ELISA with SPARC as antigen.

At the start, HuScL-3® was screened four rounds (three rounds with acidic elution and one round with competitive elution) and 17 positive clones were selected by phage ELISA. DNA sequencing of these clones revealed two unique antibody sequences, between which the 1st sequence was shared by 15 positive clones and the 2nd one was shared by remaining two positive clones. After that, the binding specificity of the two unique antibodies was validated by soluble scFv ELISA.

Next, HuScL-2® was screened for three rounds (two rounds with trypsin-digestion elution and one round with competitive elution). In the end, 30 positive clones were selected by phage ELISA. According to the sequencing results, 29 clones shared one antibody sequence and the remaining one clone encoded another unique antibody. After that, the binding specificity of these two antibodies was validated by soluble scFv ELISA as well.

Four unique ScFv against SPARC were identified, ScFv 3-1, ScFv 3-2, ScFv 2-1, and ScFv 2-2 (SEQ ID NOs: 113-116).

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method of treating a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically or diagnostically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutic or diagnostic agent coupled to a SPARC-binding-peptide (SBP) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the SBP consists of any one or more of SEQ ID NOS: 1-112 or
 117. 17-19. (canceled)
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the therapeutic or diagnostic agent is a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of platinum compounds, antifolates, antimetabolites, antimitotics, DNA damaging agents, proapoptotics, differentiation inducing agents, antiangiogenic agents, antibiotics, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, kinase inhibitors, biologically active agents, biological molecules, hormones, peptides, antibodies, antibodies fragments and combinations thereof.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibody fragment comprising a functional antibody Fc domain.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibody fragment which mediates one or more of complement activation, cell mediated cytotoxicity, inducing apoptosis, inducing cell death, and opsinization.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the antibody fragment comprises SEQ ID NO:
 118. 24. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of radionuclides, adriamycin, ansamycin antibiotics, asparaginase, bleomycin, busulphan, cisplatin, carboplatin, carmustine, capecitabine, chlorambucil, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, camptothecin, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, dexrazoxane, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, epothilones, floxuridine, fludarabine, fluorouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, idarubicin, ifosfamide, irinotecan, lomustine, mechlorethamine, mercaptopurine, meplhalan, methotrexate, rapamycin (sirolimus), mitomycin, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nitrosurea, paclitaxel, pamidronate, pentostatin, plicamycin, procarbazine, rituximab, streptozocin, teniposide, thioguanine, thiotepa, taxanes, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, taxol, combretastatins, discodermolides, transplatinum, docetaxel, paclitaxel, taxanes, 5-fluorouracil, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor compounds (“anti-VEGFs”), anti-epidermal growth factor receptor compounds (“anti-EGFRs”), genistein, tTF, TNF, Smar1 derived p44 peptide, interferon, TRAIL, Smac, VHL, procaspase, caspase, and IL-2, a non-Fc domain antibody fragment, and combinations thereof.
 25. The method of claim 16, wherein the therapeutic or diagnostic agent is a diagnostic agent selected from the group consisting of radioactive agents, MRI contrast agents, X-ray contrast agents, ultrasound contrast agents, and PET contrast agents.
 26. The method of claim 16, wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises an albumin binding protein (ABP) consisting of SEQ ID NO:
 120. 27-31. (canceled)
 32. The method of claim 16, wherein the mammal is a human patient.
 33. The method of claim 16, wherein the SBP comprises SEQ ID NO:
 1. 34. The method of claim 16, wherein the SBP comprises SEQ ID NO:
 2. 